Electric safety switch



P 1952 P. B. RICHARDSON ETAL 2,611,061

ELECTRIC SAFETY SWITCH Filed Jan. 23, 1950 [2 6'. Richardson,

Patented Sept. 16 1952 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC SAFETY svvrironK Paul B.Richardson and Hershel C. Richardson, I Alexandria, Ind;

. u v I Application January 23, 1e5a's riai No. 14( ),066 1 i Thisinvention relates to a new and. improved electric switch designedprimarily as a safety switch for any desired circuit but not necessarilylimited to the performance of a safety function.

The object of the invention is to provide an exceptionally simple andinexpensive switch construction embodying an elongated actuator wherebythe switch may be opened and closed from a remote point.

A further object is to provide a novel construction in which the switchis of the simple pivotal blade type and in which the operating means isformed by a conventional push-andpull wire housed within a guiding andprotecting armor which also prevents buckling of said wire.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation of theimproved switch, partly broken away.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views cut on the correspondinglynumbered lines of Figure 2.

In the form of construction herein described, an elongated, rectangularblock 6 of insulation constitutes a supporting base for a pivoted switchblade I and contacts 8 with which said blade is cooperable to make andbreak a circuit. This block may be fixedly mounted in any suitable way.

The blade I is pivoted at 9 between metal lugs it which project from anintegral base ll, said base ll being secured by screws 12 to the frontside of the block 6 at one end of the latter. A conducting strip l3 hasone of its ends [4 secured between the base I l and the block 6 by meansof the screws l2 which extend through both said base H and strip end 14and are threaded into the block as seen in dotted lines in Figure 4. Inthe present disclosure, the strip M has its end portions relativelyoffset to dispose its outer end l5 in a plane spaced rearwardly from theinner end 14 and to locate its intermediate portion l8 adjacent one endsurface of the block 6. The strip end 15 is formed with an opening [1instrumental in connecting said end with a binding post or othercondutor (not shown).

The contacts 8 are integral with a base I8 which is secured to the frontside of the block 6 by screws I9; and a conducting strip 20 which lieslongitudinally against said front side of said block 8 has its inner endsecured between said front side and said base [8 by means of the screws[9. These screws extend through the base 18 and the strip 20 and arethreaded into the block 6, as dotted in Figure 3. A bolt 2| extendsforwardly through the block 6 and the outer end of the 1 Claim. (o1.seek-716i) i strip20 and is-providedwithtwo nuts 22 and 23.

The nut 22 clamps the strip tightly against the block-'6, and the nut 23coacts with said nut 22 and the bolt 2| is forming a binding post,whereby another conductor (not shown) may be electrically connected withthe switch. Thus, when the blade 1 is closed, any electric circuit inwhich the switch is incorporated, will be completed, and opening of saidblade will break said circuit.

A push-and-pull wire 24 is provided for opening and closing the blade 1while the operator is at a remote point. This blade carries a transver einsulating sleeve 25 friction-fitted or otherwise secured between itsends in an opening 26, and one end of the wire 24 is formed with areturn-hand hook 21 which is hooked into said sleeve 25, therebypivotally connecting said wire 2 with the blade 1 and insulating theformer from the latter for safety. A flexible tubular armor 28,preferably of coiled wire, is provided for the wire 24, and serves toguide and protect said wire and to hold it against buckling. One end ofthis armor- 28 is mounted in a novel manner hereinafter described uponthe block 6, and the other end of said armor has suitable provision 29for mounting it on a suitable support. Adjacent the means 29 is anoperating knob 30 having a stem 3| to which the outer end of the wire 24is secured. Obviously, the wire 24 andarmor 28 may extend to anyrequired distance from the switch blade 1; and by pulling upon the knob30. said switch blade I may be quickly and easily opened; and by pushingsaid knob said blade may be closed with equal facility.

A one-piece U-shaped metal bracket 33 rearwardly straddles the block 6and has the free ends of its side arms 34 secured to opposite sides ofsaid block by means of screws 35. These arms are free from contact withany currentconducting portions of the switch and said arms are disposedat opposite sides of the blade I. The arm-connecting portion 36 of thebracket 33 is spaced forwardly from the blade I and is formed with anopening 31 through which the inner end of the armor 28 extends. Nuts 38are threaded on this armor end at opposite sides of the bracket portion36 to adjustably anchor the armor to the bracket 33.

From the foregoing and the accompanying drawing, it will be seen thatsimple, inexpensive and practical provision has been made for attainingthe desired ends, and while preferences have been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that variations may be made within the scope of the inventionas claimed.

3 We claim: A switch comprising a base, switch means mounted on saidbase and including spaced contacts and a cooperating switch bladepivotally mounted at one end and movable in one direction 5 to open theswitch and movable in the other direction to close the switch, aU-shaped bracket extending perpendicularly from the base with the freeends of the" side arms ofTtliie bracket secured to'opposite'sides ofsaid base'in the vicin-- 10 ity of the disengageable contact zone, saidbracket straddling the contact zone and the pivoted" switch blade withthe closed end of theibracketw disposed in the path of movement of thefree swinging end of said switch blade;'an elongated is tubular armorsecured at one end to and projecting within the closed end portion .ofsaid-4U- shaped bracket and projecting therein a nmaea" distance tolimit the swing range of switch-blade movement, the other end of saidarmor being 20 remote from said; bracket;apush-and-pull ewire slidablylextending, through zsaidrarmor one -,-end:- of ,saidwirerprojectingginwardly; beyond said one end of said armor and extending ina substan-* tially straight line perpendicular to the pivoted switchblade and connected thereto adjacent its free end, the other end of saidwire having an operating handle disposed at said other end of saidarmor.

PAUL B. RICHARDSON. HERSHEL C. RICHARDSON.

- REF-ERENCESILCITED The following references are of record in the file"of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number- Name Date 1',219;531 Bricka Mar. 20, 19171,570,791 Thomas et a1 Jan. 26, 1926 2,277,671" Williams et a1 Mar. 31,1942 2,458,930 Crooke Jan. 11. 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number" Country IDate'*" I 498,347 Germany" May'21'; 1930"

